Amalgamator



April 19, 1932. N. M-cnow 1,854,269

AMALGAMATOR Filed Aug. 27. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS G. N. M DowAMALGAMATOR April 19, 1932.

Filed Aug. 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR 650265 M5170! ATTORNEYS.

Wan/4% I Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES GEORGE N. McDow, orsUsANvILLE; CALIFORNIA V AMALGAMATOR Application filed August 27, 1927.Serial No. 215,898.

The present invention relates to improvements in amalgamators, and 1tsprinclpal object is to provide an amalgamator in which 7 particles ofgold, silver and platinum contained in ore pulp are efficiently andeconomically separated from the refuse. It is particularly proposed forthis purpose to force the ore pulp into a body of mercury, preferably bymeans of a reciprocating piston, and to agitate or revolve the said bodyof mercury so that the ore pulp is brought intointimate contact with themercury, allowing all the metal particles to combine with the mercurywhile the refuse works toward the upper face of the mercury and isdischarged therefrom.

It is further proposed to provide in an amalgamator of the characterdescribed certain details of construction which improve the operation ofthe machine as will appear from the following specification.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 shows a vertical center section through myamalgamator;

Figure 2, a horizontal section taken along line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figures 3 and 4, perspective detail views of parts of an agitatordiffering somewhat from the agitator shown in connection with Figure 1.

WVhile I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, I wish tohave it understood that various changes or modifications may be madewithin the scope of the claim hereto attached without departing from thespirit of the invention.

In its preferred form .my amalgamator comprises a cylindrical vessel 1adapted to receive mercury therein, a funnel-shaped receptacle 2 formedwith a horizontal flange 3 adapted to lie on the top edge of the vessel1, a cylindrical shoulder 4 centering the said receptacle, a cylindricalreceiving vessel 6 bolted to the rim of the vessel 1 and formed with anintake pipe 7, a cover plate 8 having a central cylinder 9 extendingdownwardly therefrom, which latter is aligned with a central c'ylinderllextending downwardly from'the funnel-shaped receptacle 2, and bearings12 and 13 supported in a bearing plate 16 and braces 17, respectively. Apiston 18.c0mprising'an iron cylinder 19, a hard rubber ring 21surrounding the same, and steel rings 22 and 23 at the top and thebottom, is adapted to' reciprocate in the aligned cylinders 9 and 11respectively, and is actuated from any suitable source of power by meansof a piston rod 24 extending through the bearings 12 and 13. The lowerend of the cylinder 9 is formed with ports 26 in that portion surroundedby the base of e the receptacle 2, so that ore pulp may be admitted intothe cylinders on the upward stroke of the piston, and may be forceddownwardly into the body of mercury on the downward stroke.

The mercury is kept agitated and made to revolve by means of theagitator 27 comprising a hub section 28 revolvably mounted on a bearingmember 29 rising from the bottom of the vessel 1 and actuated by meansof a shaft 31 to the upper end of which the hub is non-rotatablysecured. The shaft 31 is provided with a bevel gear 32 which'meshes witha driving gear 33 for imparting motion to the agitator. The hub section28 has preferably four arms. 34 extending therefrom which are slotted inaxial planes as shown at 36 to receive suitable blades which may beround asshown at 37 or rectangular as shown at 38 in Figure 4, .or ofany other I suitable shape. The blades 37 and the arms 34 are suitablyperforated as shown at 39 and 41 to allow the blades to be fastened inany one of various positions. I

Where the cylindrical blades are used I preferably insert removablerings 42 in the vessel which are shaped to conform to the outlines ofthe blades 37 so that dead pockets are avoided and the ore pulp is keptfrom packing and'lodging in the vessel. 95

For the guidance of refuse ore pulp I provide tapered rings 44, 46 and47. The ring 44 surrounds the cylinder 11 and is fastened thereto bymeans of a set screw 48. The rings; 46 and 47 are disposed along theside its of the vessel 1 and if placed as shown in Figure 1 form withthe ring 44 a frustroconical passage through which the refuse passesupwardly. The wall of the vessel 1 above the rings is formed with sideopenings 49 extending substantially over the entire circumferencethereof and is surrounded by a flanged rim 51 which guides the refusepassing through the openings 49 into the discharge spout 52.

A discharge pipe. 53 is provided immediately adjacent the bottom of thevessel, and allows the mercury and the precious metals to be withdrawntherethrough. A valve 54 controls the drain pipe.

Another pipe 56 extends through the vessel at the elevation of the topof the mercury. This pipe may be used to skim the surface of the mercuryin which case the skimmings pass through the vertical pipe 57 and thevalve 58 into the drain pipe 53. The pipe 56 may also be used forforcing water into the vessel 1 through the pipe 59 and the valve 61.

The operation of my amalgamator is as follows: Ore pulp is fed into thereceptacle 6 through the intake 7 so as to surround the cylinder 9. Onthe upward stroke of the piston 18 the cylinders 9 and 11 fill with orepulp and the latter is forced into the body of mercury lying in thevessel 1 on the downward stroke of the piston. In the meantime the bodyof mercury is kept revolving by the agitator 27. This double action ofthe forceful injection of the ore pulp into the mercury and therevolving of the latter causes all particles of the ore pulp to come inintimate contact with the mercury, so that any metal particles containedin the pulp are amalgamated. During this process the heavier substanceswork toward the bottom and toward the outside while the lighterparticles rise toward the top substantially in adjacent relation to thecylinder 11. This refuse is then crowded through the passage between therings 44, 46 and 47, and the openings 49 to the rim 51, from which it ispassed on to the discharge'52.

\Vater is injected at the same time through the pipe 56 to facilitatethe operation and to wash away the refuse.

It should be noted that the passage for the refuse may be changed inform by reversal of either the ring 44 or of the rings 46 and 47, or bysubstitution of different rings of different forms.

After the machine has been operated the refuse remaining in the machinewhen operation is discontinued may be drawn ofi through the pipe 56. Themercury and amalgam may be drained off through the pipe 58. 1

I claim:

In an amalgamator, cylindrical vessel for holding a body of mercury, anagitator GEORGE N. MoDOW.

